200 Catalan municipalities have already proclaimed its independence from Spain. On September 11, hundreds of thousands are demonstrating for the elimination of Barcelona. Why do renounce many Catalans of Spain.
In Sant Pere de Torello the dream of independence has already become
reality, albeit far largely symbolic: the first town in the 2500-strong
village, about 90 kilometers north of Barcelona, two years ago
declared a "Free Catalan territory» . Although turnpikes not greet at the entrance of the surrounded by lush green hills hamlet in the foothills of the Pyrenees. But probably a lot of "Esteladas" red-yellow-striped Catalan flags also wear a white star on a blue triangle.
Rebellious villages
Also from the balcony of City Hall blows such a star-spangled banner in addition to the EU flag and the community. The Spanish flag has been removed here a long time ago.
"We feel the central government to no longer subject," says Mayor Jordi
Fàbrega who belongs to the separatist links Republicans, not without
pride.
The VAT and the income tax of the urban employees to lead as an
expression of civil disobedience from not at Madrid, but at Barcelona. So wanted to signal that the Spanish government ausraube the region, explains the casually dressed in T-shirt and jeans man.
Like many here, he complained that Catalonia with high transfer
payments support the poorer parts of the country, while in their own
region, the benefits would be reduced.
About 8 percent of the Catalan GDP thus meeting the solidarity with the
rest of Spain benefit of insured 45-year-old, money that does not back
may flow in the region. In addition, Madrid Catalonia for years neglected in investment. Most here anyway not empfänden as Spaniards.
The National Day on October 12 - formerly known as Día de la
Hispanidad, Day of Spaniertums - has declared a working day the mayor. About 200 mostly small communities in Catalonia have followed the example of the rebellious village.
Many residents in Sant Pere de Torello take pride in their place.
They hope to November 9 in a referendum vote for independence, even if
Madrid rejects this as unconstitutional: "We Catalans are suppressed for
300 years," says an administrative assistant to the 60 resentments.
"The Spaniards, it's all about our money, but they are not even ready
for the slightest concession," says the woman who confesses traveled to
all major cities in Europe, but to have deliberately never set foot to
Madrid.
On September 11, we'll show the world with a gigantic demonstration in
Barcelona, how serious was the Catalans with their independence.
"We need a new state»
A young man who has just entered the hall in a list, to sign up for the
big event, believes that the independence economically, politically and
socially only bring benefits. The Spanish State has already lost numerous corruption cases all credibility. Also in the Catalan government, however, there had been mismanagement. The show finally the tax scandal Jordi Pujol; the former Prime Minister of the Catalonia region has long been the icon of Catalan nationalism. It was time to draw a line under the past: "What we need is a new state," says the young man, and his eyes light up.
The desire for independence is particularly pronounced in the Catalan hinterland. In the nearby, 40,000 inhabitants town of Vic also a go-getting mayor operates a similar initiative. He faces a coalition of Catalan communities who speak out with a clear majority in favor of secession. After all, 694 of 940 municipalities belonging to the composite in the meantime. Cities like Gerona belonged to reports Mayor Josep Maria Vila d'Abadal. In the metropolitan region of Barcelona to the spin-off process to find, however, now not so much support. There often ruled the Socialists.
In the independence movement "Assemblea Nacional Catalana" in Barcelona office, preparations for September 11, meanwhile, are in full swing. dozens of volunteers distribute T-shirts in yellow and red color on those who have registered for the protest march.
"V" for "Votar»
On the two pointed converging main arteries of the metropolis, the Gran
Via and Diagonal are, on Thursday gather hundreds of thousands to a
giant "V". It stands for both "votar" (Select) "voluntat» (desire) and "via" (path) - for some even Victoria (Victory). Ricard Gene from the national secretariat of the citizens' initiative says there daily from 20,000 to 25,000 enrollments.
Last year we had 1.6 million people, according to the Catalan police,
mobilized, forming a 400 km long human chain for independence along the
Catalan coast.
This year is the resultant of protesters "V" resulting from the air a
mosaic of the Catalan flag with red stripes on a yellow background.
Gene is convinced that it can not be illegal to question the Catalan population according to their political future. If the current law does not permit this, the laws would have changed, not the population are silenced, says the lawyer.
The Spanish Constitutional Court, which will shoot down the proposed
referendum in all probability, he considers a politicized institution
that is not neutral.
After the Constitutional Court had curtailed by the Spanish Parliament
adopted the Catalan Statute of Autonomy few years ago, it has lost all
credibility.
The caps of that statute, which described the Catalans as "nation" and
paid tribute to their historical otherness has, the people of the region
deeply humiliated. The crisis and the feeling financially downright available for other parts of Spain, did the rest. For a growing number of Catalan independence has become the lifebelt amid a raging hard-crisis levels in the country. The closer the vote date but engaged, the louder and the opposition of opponents who previously acted rather sheepishly.
Doubts about the desire for independence were long considered taboo, as
critics spoilsport, says the 47-year-old historian Joaquim Coll, who
feels just as Catalan as a Spaniard.
Siamese twins?
Together with like-minded Coll has launched a citizens' initiative
called "Civil Societat Catalana" launched a few months ago, which
opposes independence. Equipped with broad autonomy rights region was not "suppressed" of Madrid, will as claimed, says Coll.
The Catalan nationalists he accuses to exploit the economic crisis and
the anger over a clipped autonomy statute for the secession own desires. Certainly there is a need for reform, not least in terms of financial compensation. The economic risks of secession but would be prohibitive.
Also Catalan business representatives, especially those of large
companies, according to report concerns to: "The consequences of
separation for Spain are often compared with those of a Armamputation"
says Jordi Alberich, Director General of the Circulo de Economia
Business Association. "I would rather speak of the separation of Siamese twins." Finally, we share but many organs together. About half of all Catalan products are sold on the Spanish market. Moreover exists a complex web of financial and business policy band.
Catalan banks as "La Caixa" for example, which had successfully
weathered the crisis of the financial sector had grown rapidly in recent
years in the rest of Spain.
A number of Catalan entrepreneurs make up for a so-called "third way"
strong, which should mediate between the objective pursued by Verve in
Barcelona desire for independence and the immovable attitude of Madrid. She demands include a fiscal pact that it Catalonia future will allow to collect the taxes themselves.
42 percent of all Catalans draw now, according to surveys this option
before, 27 percent argue for independence, and 19 percent want to
maintain the current state.
Vote either way
Jordi Turull, the parliamentary leader of the ruling party Convergència
i Unio in the regional parliament, but said that Spaniards and Catalans
would live together as neighbors better than under one roof. It was decided to hold the referendum on 9 November. What then concrete on November 10 change?
Especially one says Jordi Turull: The Spanish state, the international
community and the political forces of Catalonia would know which way
would pursue the Catalan people. Then it is a matter of implementing the will of the people and to initiate negotiations with Madrid.
However, whether it gets that far, is uncertain, because the court
should intervene before because the referendum is not approved by the
Spanish Parliament. Then there would remain the possibility of bringing forward, plebiscitary regional elections.
A referendum will remain the government in Madrid not spared either
way, says Turull: "Citizens will be consulted, whether using the one or
the other instrument."
Catalonia's "Stars and Stripes": Whether the independence brings new wind (Photo by Keystone / AP)?
